Ren'Py - Leaving The Past [v1.0] [MrNutcracker]

VERSION: 1.0
SUMMARY: Generally poor game on all levels with little to no content. Hard pass.
RATINGS: (out of 5):

1. Models: 3
2. Animations: NO CONTENT TO RATE
3. General Visuals: 3
4. Characters: 2
5. Story: 2
6. Writing: 1
7. Pacing: NO CONTENT TO RATE
8. Content (amount): 1
9. UI & Sounds: 3
10. Fetish & kinks: NO CONTENT TO RATE

Average: X of 50 possible points giving a X% rating i.e. X stars.

PROS:

1. Models are OK looking and the general renders are not bad, the world does not look bad, but neither great (see cons)
2. Music and general sound in games always get a mention because that is the least devs can give on audio.

CONS:

1. The models and renders all have a dated look about them, its not horrible or bad, its just IMO not up to spec and standard I expect these days.
2. Some bugs in references to the relationship stat chosen by the player at start of the game. Often it reverts to "landlady"
3. Writing is not great and yes I understand English is not the creators native language, but they will need to get someone to assist with that. There are several grammatical and spelling errors.
4. The overall story is flimsy and executed even worse, there are pointless stupid dialogue lines that make no sense and make the entire dialogue unnatural and fake.
5. The UI is bad, in so much as there is no description or quick navigation in free-roam which is a must. The player is forced to click the entire house nearly to get to the next screen and there is nothing of note in any other room anyway, so why have it at this juncture?
6. Little to no content with only one quick scene of what im guessing is an LI in the shower that yells at you for perving.
7. Speaking of perving, the MC seems to be some sexual predator, at least the way the game is made and written, because the last free-roam the MC simply walks in the dark (using shit UI) to perv on his "housemates". No pretext for his feelings or reasons to do this, one assumes he is being nice to his long lost family, but his actions...well tell another story.

FINAL THOUGHTS & SUGGESTIONS:

• The premise is that our MC is a legendary assassin, which I find unlikely considering his age but also if that is the case, why does he look like a kid that just came out of school? I personally never understand why a pretty school boy look is chosen for a so call "bad ass, killer" We are talking about just in a "normal" setting, I am not talking about a 12yo ninja kid trained in killing, that would be a major extreme and this MC does not look 12yo either despite having no facial hair, scar or any "manly" ruggedness one would expect from someone who has gone through arduous training, exposed to countless dangers etc...
• Flow of dialogue is not smooth either, once you play it you will notice this, the transition from one moment or scene to the next is not always logical or make sense, which is jarring and very noticeable e.g. flashback that the MC has while in the taxi, something triggers him to recall the past but its not done well or explained enough, so the player is left guessing or assuming, was it the hat that triggered him, what was said...etc.
• Added to the above, scenes that make zero sense, MC goes to family home, rings bell, no one opens, simply goes in anyway, first person is a chick that yells at him and treats him like trash which I could understand from someone you know and live with on a day to day basis, but she doesn't know the MC, he was taken at 5 yo. So where on earth is this kind of behaviour normal? The MC buy the family old home, but when they arrive at the "old" new home, they need a tour of the place? They act like they never lived there? Where is the info providing clarity on this? The developer needs to rethink this all before adding more content IMO, this is bad writing and again just puts the player off. The idea is to like the game not feel frustrated, annoyed or bothered by whats in it...
• Much of the game is "weird" and awkward, like the MC "landlady" meeting her again after years is so reheresed, stiff, awkward, the so called hug she gives is really not one of someone that missed their child. The wave goodbye when the MC is standing 2m away from the "landlady" you wave good bye to someone driving away in a car not that is standing at arms length from you? Seriously developer?
• As a sole developer making a game, I have only respect for people doing this and my critique is there to help, but I wont hold back either as there are plenty of lazy developers out there who want a quick buck in support but often drop said supporters down the line.
• I believe much of the story, dialogue and writing is also in the state it is in due to language barriers, cultural difference etc. Thus I stand by what I said that the developer should get assistance with the story and writing, particularly if they are going to pitch it to a general English speaking community.